May 18, 2026 Day Before First Chemo Treatment The day before my first chemotherapy treatment began the way every day does: Johnny sitting in his chair doing his morning routine of a variety of devotions. I’m at my table nearby doing the same. All of a sudden, Johnny shared
May 14 & 15, 2026 CT Scan & Surgery #2 I am a first-born, independent, rule-following, strong-willed child who was born with my hands on my hips. I will admit I like to be in charge. Not of other people necessarily but of my own circumstances, my
May 12, 2026 The Hair Thing Benjamin Franklin is credited for saying, “ Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” This was clearly before my specific chemotherapy was around because the third guarantee is that I will lose my hair. At least that is what my Care Coordinator told me at
May 6, 2026 First Meeting with Oncologist I was fortunate to get a quick appointment with the gyn/onc. In case you are wondering, that’s short for gynecologic oncologist. Yes, I’m learning a lot of new words and acronyms: cool capping, molecular testing, omentum, debulking, HIPEC, CA-125.
The Spiritual
May 4-12, 2026 Telling My Family the News It was not easy to tell my family. In some ways, I knew it would be harder on them than on me. My mom would rather it be her. My sister would be in disbelief. I dreaded telling the kids. It
News
April 29-May 4, 2026 Waiting for Pathology Report There was a week between the surgery and the official pathology report coming back. It was a week of not knowing. They say the “not knowing” is the hardest part - that once you have a diagnosis, then you have a plan
April 28, 2026 Elective Surgery I sporadically keep a journal. Here is my entry from last September 2025, written 9 days after my 61st birthday: Sept. 22, 2025 (Journal Entry) There has been a shift in my life slowly coming for a while. I find myself much stronger in my